Kotliarevskyi and theatre. Part two

In the traditions of many nations, theatre serves as a place where living language and aesthetics are preserved. In Japan, the classical arts of Kabuki and Noh have maintained the country’s national identity for centuries through the combination of movement, words, and music. In Ukraine, the national stage became a space for preserving the Ukrainian spirit, and its cradle was the city of Poltava—an ancient cultural centre in the very heart of Ukraine.

Continuing our exploration of Ivan Kotliarevskyi, the founding father of modern Ukrainian literature, it is important to mention his contribution to the development of theatre. Through his work, the Ukrainian language found its voice on the stage, paving the way for subsequent generations of writers and playwrights.

In 1818, Kotliarevskyi became the director of the Poltava Theatre, bringing together a company of 15 actors under his leadership. At that time, its repertoire consisted of foreign plays with fictional plots that felt distant from the lives of local people. Audiences wanted to see stories on stage that they could understand and relate to.

Writing for his own audience, Kotliarevskyi created the play Natalka Poltavka in 1819. It became the first production in which the characters spoke and sang in the living Ukrainian language used by the people. The author personally selected folk melodies and created 22 songs for the production.

Kotliarevskyi cared deeply for his theatre company and treated every actor with consideration. Among its members was Mykhailo Shchepkin, who was still a serf at the time and had no personal freedom. Recognising his talent, Kotliarevskyi became involved in his fate: he organised a public subscription and engaged the local community to purchase Shchepkin’s freedom from serfdom.

Kotliarevskyi also expressed his deep respect for ordinary people through the title of his play. Natalka is an affectionate form of the name Nataliia, emphasising the heroine’s closeness to the people. The word Poltavka indicates that she comes from his native city of Poltava.

In a society where decisions about marriage were usually made by parents or matchmakers, Natalka demonstrates courage. She rejects a wealthy and influential man, defending her right to love according to the calling of her heart. This character elevated the dignity of Ukrainian women to a new level.

Created in 1819, Natalka Poltavka has remained on the Ukrainian stage for more than 200 years. In recent years, the production has continued to be popular with audiences, filling theatres. The living Ukrainian language heard from the stage preserves national identity and unites generations around timeless values.